Artificial Insemination (AI) programs have been widely used in both the dairy and beef stud industries for decades, but are only recently becoming used in the commercial beef industry.

OVH vet Andrew Denman explains to our cattle producers why they might consider an AI program.

With new synchronization programs available Fixed Time Artificial Programs (FTAI) are now making that first step into AI much easier for the Australian beef producer. One great benefit of FTAI is that there are less treatments and observation of the cattle needed and so this means less work for the farmer and less stress for the cattle.

The most obvious advantage of AI programs is to be able to source semen from very valuable, proven bulls (EBVs etc). The producer can choose semen from bulls that he believes will increase traits that are lacking in his herd. The other major advantage of AI programs is that these cows will all calve in the first week of calving, allowing more time for the cows to recover before the next joining (especially beneficial for heifers). These early season calves will grow out to be a tighter and heavier line of steers than their later born peers.

Don’t be afraid to give AI a go this joining season. Feel free to ring and talk to Andrew or any of the vets at OVH for more information on any cattle reproduction issues.

Mulesing lambs to prevent breech blowfly strike is an important management intervention but is not without its complications. Since the introduction of Tri-Solfen, a topical anaesthetic and antiseptic mulesing wound dressing, more and more sheep producers have adopted its use to minimise the complications and losses associated with mulesing lambs.

Tri-Solfen was developed as a topical gel for application to the mulesing wound straight after the operation to provide quick, long lasting (24 hours) pain relief and antiseptic cover. It also helps stem bleeding to minimise shock. As a result, lambs show less pain-related behaviour and are more likely to mother up successfully. Producers are able to note on their National Wool Declaration that they have used pain relief on their mulesed lambs thus providing evidence and transparency of their attention to the welfare of their stock.

Apart from the obvious welfare benefits, using pain relief and reducing losses from shock, infection or mismothering makes sound commercial sense too. If weaning percentage is increased by as little as 1% through the loss of fewer lambs, then this more than pays for the treatment. In recent years, the number of sheep provided pain relief with Tri-Solfen has reached 40% nationwide which indicates that more producers realise pain relief is a better choice.

Earlier in the year, we featured an article on selecting effective drenches. This has been a hot topic in the sheep and goat world for decades, however recent surveys throughout Victoria and Western Australia have shown drench resistance in cattle is developing and is cause for concern. It is therefore an important step forward which MSD Animal Health have undertaken to develop Trifecta, a triple active, oral combination drench. 

There is now compelling evidence that the use of combination drenches (a drench containing two or more active ingredients) will slow the development of resistance, especially if used before resistance becomes evident. When resistance is already present on farm, combination drenches often achieve acceptable levels of worm control, enabling the continued use of drenches, which on their own are not sufficiently effective.

While orally drenching cattle is more labour intensive than pour-on or injectable, it is becoming increasingly clear that oral drenching is more effective in cattle and less likely to select for resistance. Oral drenches deliver the highest dose of drug to worms, which is associated with higher efficacy than pour-on or injectable drenches. 

Trifecta provides an ideal rotational drench choice particularly for replacement heifers, weaners and young stock, as these classes of stock are not only the most susceptible to a worm burden and associated production losses, but are also responsible for the majority of pasture contamination on a property.

For information on updates to the registration, withholding periods and usage instructions click here.